Year after year, different government agencies perform surveys and studies in order to see if its campaigns and programs were effective in addressing the growing problem on opiate addiction. However, news of the steady increase in the number of Americans getting addicted each year, is becoming old news to us. Opiate addiction was and continues to be a very alarming epidemic in the United States, and through the years, the efforts of the federal and state governments have seemed to fail in stemming the tide of this problem.

Incidentally, the number of people who have died due to overdose and other complications related to opiate addiction has doubled. Yet, at the same time there was a notable increase in the number of prescriptions for opiates that are being handed out to treat pain management. It has been noted that a large number of people initially took opiates to manage pain. Unfortunately, its natural properties made it very hard for them to stop taking the drug and they eventually become dependent on its use. In an effort to pull down the numbers, the FDA proposes that stricter restrictions be made in prescribing these medications and they should be issued only to those who really need it. We have yet to see the effect of this ruling but hopefully, it will reduce the occurrences of opiate addiction.

Many attribute the lack of patient education as a factor that also contributes to the rise of opiate addiction in the US. If patients are made aware of the high risk of opiate addiction and the danger to their life and safety, then it is possible that many would be more cautious and follow their physician’s orders by the letter.

There are more deaths due to overdose from legally prescribed opiates compared to those who have died due to illegal narcotics.

There has also been a remarkable rise of heroin addiction in recent years. This is largely due to the transition many addicts make when they find it difficult to keep getting prescription based opiates. Heroin is definitely cheaper than prescription drugs and often times easier to obtain.

The future of opiate addiction in the US is still very unclear and any tangible changes from the new policies may not be apparent until after a couple more years. The new regulations will admittedly help new patients be more aware of the risks of undergoing opiate treatment. It is the goal of these policies to raise awareness in every patient and hopefully lead to a decrease in addiction rates.

Suboxone is typically used in managing opioid abuse. It has been widely prescribed to help reduce the appearance of withdrawal symptoms, and increase the success of an addict’s recovery. Suboxone is made from a combination of naloxone and buprenorphine. Naloxone is a drug that is found to be effective in reducing opioid overdose and works by blocking its euphoric effects. Buprenorphine works by reducing the extreme effects of withdrawal that a recovering addict might experience. Together, these medications make Suboxone very effective. Although addiction to Suboxone is less likely than addiction to methadone, another drug used to treat those addicted to opiate , Suboxone’s misuse can lead to severe damage to one’s health.

According to a survey conducted by Surveillance of Diversion and Abuse of Therapeutic Agents, or SODATA, it has been found that the number of Americans that are addicted to Suboxone is on a steady rise compared to the trends observed in the previous years. The increase has been attributed to the redirection from medical to recreational use, which is very common with patients who use highly addictive medications as treatment for opiate addiction.

There was also an observed rise in the number of emergency room visits due to non-medical use of Buprenorphine, which is a popular brand name for Suboxone. In these emergency visits, it has been identified that hospitalization as due to abuse of Suboxone as well as self-medication to treat opiate addiction.

In 2002, Suboxone was approved as treatment for opiate addiction, and even back in 2010, there were already 800,000 patients that were on Suboxone to help manage their withdrawal symptoms. Suboxone has been found very effective in blocking off the opioid receptors in the brain and in the central nervous system. This helped wean patients off prescription opioids that they were addicted to. However, Suboxone is also addictive and many recovering addicts end up substituting one addiction with another.

Since its approval as treatment for opioid addiction, many physicians have prescribed Suboxone because its use reduces the chance of overdose. The rising number of people abusing Suboxone is starting to worry US officials and they are starting to question the effectiveness and safety of the medication for treating opiate addiction. Plus, when used improperly or by someone who has other opiates in their blood stream, Suboxone can result to very severe withdrawal symptoms.

Although the exact reason for the sharp rise in Suboxone abuse is still unknown, the increase in emergency visits due to misuse of Suboxone as treatment for opiate addiction caused concern for authorities. In the hopes of addressing the alarming rise in the abuse and misuse of Suboxone, US officials are finding ways to make doctors and treatment facilities more accessible to recovering addicts so that they wouldn’t have to resort to self-medicating in an attempt to get well.

Addiction is very destructive and very dangerous. If you yourself suspect that you are addicted or if you suspect that a friend or a family member may be, do not ignore the early signs and care enough to help your loved one handle the addiction as early as possible to help minimize the negative effects of the addiction to both their physical and mental well-being.

It is instinctive for a loved one to shy away from asking questions or brush off any suspicions of addiction because of fear of handling the truth, denial, and because they have in their heads a stereotype of what an addict is and the character of their loved one doesn’t fall into that. Although there may be obvious signs of addiction, most of the time the symptoms are very subtle because of the addict’s efforts to hide their addiction.

There are some common characteristics among different addictions and being able to confirm addiction in the early stages will certainly increase the chances of an addict to recover from the addiction successfully.

An addict is obsessed with the object of his addiction and it may seem that this is the only thing that they care about.

An addict will seek out his addiction and will continually engage in this behavior despite the negative consequences. Though they see that it is resulting to poor health, problems at school or work, and even issues with family and friends, they will still go out and continue with the habit.

Even if they feel that they want to stop the addiction, the addict will compulsively engage in the addiction and will find it very difficult to remove themselves from the situation.

In the absence of the object of the addiction, an addict will start to feel withdrawal symptoms and early stages will include irritability, cravings for the object of addiction, depression, and restlessness.

An addict will lose total self-control and will excessively partake in the addiction despite his desire to stop. His body will dictate when, how, and how much of the activity he would need.

You would often find an addict denying the problem even if the addiction is very obvious and its negative effects are very apparent to others.

An addict will exert all efforts to try to hide the addiction with family, friends, and coworkers and will start hiding stuff and act very suspicious.

Addicts will often report blackouts or will fail to remember things that they did during the times that they were engaging in the addiction.

It is very common for addicts to display depression and sudden changes in behavior.

Addicts would usually have very low self-esteem and are often very anxious.

Sudden changes in the addict’s health and physical appearance could also be indicative of addictive behaviors.

If you suspect that you are addicted or know someone who might be, then you may find that confronting about the addiction is not easy. Always remember the purpose of the confrontation and reassure that your purpose is to help them get better and get healthy and that you are coming from a place of love and support.

When a loved one is addicted to alcohol or drugs, the desire to help as well as the mixed emotions that family members may have about the addiction can cause confusion in deciding which measure to take in order to convince their loved one to seek treatment. Just sitting back and hoping that things will eventually get better will definitely not apply when it comes to any addiction because it is a chronic and progressive disease that requires proper treatment in order for the addict to heal completely.

Staging an intervention is one of the most effective ways to make an addict realize that there is a problem and make him aware of the extent at which the addiction has affected his life and relationships. But if an intervention is not planned and executed properly, it can backfire and the addict might end up falling deeper into the addiction because he felt that he was being judged upon and that he doesn’t have the support that he needs from his loved ones.

In most cases, the best time to intervene is during the early stages of the addiction and a simple request to stop the abuse may be more than enough to get them on the right track. In some cases, a perfectly timed and elaborately planned intervention is needed and it is highly suggested that this be done after a crisis event so that the addict will find it difficult to deny the existence of the problem.

The success of an intervention highly depends on the degree of planning that you have prior to sitting down with the addict. Each person is unique and the addiction has changed each person differently so choosing the best type of intervention is crucial if you want to help your loved one recover and get healthy.

Different Intervention Models

Johnson Model – this is the surprise or ambush intervention where the addict does not have any idea about the intervention happening until everyone sits down and tells him so. In this model, the participants of the intervention must be prepared to handle the anger that the addict may feel due to the manipulation of the situation. During intervention, focus on the positive attributes of your loved one and discuss the negative changes brought about by the addiction. It will help to cite specific examples as you discuss these negative changes. Be cautious not to use this model with addicts who are also suffering from trauma as the ambush or surprise approach can result to violence or self-harm.

Invitation Model – this is a less confrontational intervention where the addict is made aware of what will happen and is invited to meet with a group of his friends and family. Some describe this model as motivational interviewing and is very effective for addicts who have already acknowledged that the addiction exists and that they need treatment and for addicts who needs a gradual and gentle treatment approach.

Systemic Model – this intervention involves the entire family and all the participants are educated and receives counselling so that family members can offer the proper support for the addict recovery. Dysfunctional families and those who find themselves enabling the addict will benefit from this type of intervention.

Interesting article in the New York Times. It seems that both alcohol and drug abuse is on the rise in older U.S. citizens. When it comes to alcohol, some of that has to do with the body’s decreasing ability to process alcohol. It stays in our body longer as we age. Someone who could handle 2 drinks, may not find they can do so at age 60 or older.

The article also discusses how retirement may be impacting substance abuse. In retirement there can be depression, divorce, death of a spouse, moving into a smaller residence, and a lot more free time. Boredom can be a leading cause of substance abuse.

Dependence on opiates or drugs that are used to manage pain changes the way your body responds to pain and how it elicits the feeling of pleasure or euphoria. Long term use of opiates results in the body depending on the drug in order to counteract any feeling of pain, and to feel any form of pleasure, something that the body was able to do on its own previously.

Some opiate addicts have a hard time stopping the habit even if they are aware of the dangerous consequences because the body’s need for it becomes so overwhelming that they find they need it just to feel ‘normal’. The absence of opiates sends the body into distress where they will experience numerous withdrawal symptoms and this alone is reason enough for some addicts to continue using opiates. They are trying to avoid the discomfort of withdrawal.

The uncomfortable side effects of opiate withdrawal are unavoidable. An addict who has made the decision to get clean is going to have to go through detox and deal with the withdrawal. One of the keys to going through detox successfully is understanding what to expect, so that they can take measures that will prepare their mind and body for the withdrawal symptoms.

Phases of Withdrawal

The severity of the withdrawal symptoms depends largely on how long an addict has been using, what they have been using, and how dependent the body has become on the opiate. The first few hours of not having opiates in their system can be the most excruciating, and many addicts relapse because the symptoms can become so unbearable. For severe addictions, it might be advisable to check oneself into a local detox facility so that one’s health is monitored for any withdrawal complications.

During the first few hours of withdrawal, addicts may resort to violence and can become very aggressive as a result of the craving for the drug. Addicts may exhibit symptoms of psychosis because of lack of sleep combined with the other physical symptoms. They often will experience flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches, runny nose, and chills. They will become restless and will have a general feeling of anxiety.

The physical symptoms will start getting better, although they may still be very uncomfortable. As the withdrawal progresses, you can expect to have diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, high blood pressure, and rapid heartbeat. Although your body may feel better in the next few days, your brain may still be exhibiting withdrawal symptoms and some say these lasts longer than the physical symptoms. You may notice that your memory becomes foggy and you sometimes find yourself at a loss, not having any idea what you are doing. You find yourself on an emotional roller coaster, feeling happy one time and suddenly feeling extremely upset for no reason.

Some say that they feel close to normal about a week after the absence of opiates in their body. From this point, everything may seem to be easier and back to normal. But it is essential to come to the realization that it will not always feel this way. There will be days that the craving for opiates will be so intense that a user will want to take them again. They need to remind themselves everyday why they have decided to stop the addiction. It will help to join support groups and go into individual counseling to get the motivation that they need to continue getting better.

More often than not, drug addiction starts from recreational use. Getting a fix every now and then when you are with your friends can get you hooked. It is very common for people, especially those in their teens, to disregard the danger of abusing illegal substances. They are often unaware of what it can do to the mind and body and how it can affect their lives.

Here are 3 things that you probably didn’t know about drug addiction. Knowing these and seeking treatment right away may mean the difference between opening your eyes and realizing its dangers and ending up in a downward spiral of drug addiction.

Drugs are toxic to your body

Just because some drugs that you take were intended for pain management, does not make it ok to take them in excessive amounts. Any type of prescription drug can be dangerous to the body if you take more than what was prescribed by your physician and if they are taken regularly over a long period of time. Drugs are toxins and can be poisonous to the body.

A once a day drug fix can be enough for you today, but over time you will find yourself needing to take it more frequently just to feel “normal”. It is the natural tendency of addicts to increase their dosage to increase the pleasure that they derive from the addiction and once the toxicity level of the body becomes too much to handle, addiction can lead to health problems including death.

Drugs can impede with your brain function

Aside from the dangerous effect of drug addiction to the different parts of your body, the most dangerous effect that it may have is on your brain function which can often be irreversible. The brain is a very complex system which is responsible not only for your thoughts, but also with the proper function of your entire body. Once you damage the brain, it may forever compromise the way your body works as well as the way you behave. In most cases, brain damage is irreversible.

Drug addiction can make you look wooden or blank, with delayed response to situations and stimulus. It makes you forgetful. What used to be very easy to solve math problems can suddenly look like a foreign language to you. In the end, drugs can ruin your creativity and dulls all of your senses.

Drugs are not a solution

Some drug addicts fell into the trap of substance abuse because they tried to use drugs as a way to cope with situations in their lives that they had trouble dealing with. They find the pleasurable feeling that drugs give them is a way to escape from what’s troubling them. Before they know it the drugs become a habit that they cannot break. Instead of dealing with their problems, they have added another problem to deal with.

Whatever problem you may be facing, drug abuse will never ever be a solution and will probably just make matters worse. Yes, the high makes you feel good and forget about your problems for a few hours, but this will only be temporary. The problems will still be there to be dealt with after the effects of the drug wears off. Addressing your issues head on will help you solve the problem for good, and you prevent the risk of getting into more trouble and creating more damage by turning to drugs.

Addiction changes you, affects your body, your mind, and your soul. Many addicts find it hard to go back to living life normally, but it can be done. The climb to recovery may be rocky and steep but there are also many addicts who have successfully finished the journey and are living every day without succumbing to cravings of going back to their old habits.

To keep you on the right track to recovery from addiction, here are 5 ways that can help you stay motivated and determined to get better.

1. Make an assessment and change your direction

Sit down and take some time to put in black and white the things that the addiction has done to you. What changes in your body were caused by the addiction? Do you see or feel any obvious effects it made on your body? Did your addiction hurt you mentally? Does it give you anxiety, make you feel depressed, shamed, or embarrassed? What about your relationships? Did you lose touch of important people in your life because of your addiction? How did you addiction affect your job? Your financial status? Did you lose a lot of money in order to sustain your addiction?

You are definitely in a different place now in terms of the condition of your body, your relationships, and your work. Identifying the changes in your life because of the addiction and seeing it in black and white will reinforce your will to change and get better. Now make a list of the changes that you would like to make in your life. Writing down your commitment to recover from addiction will give you something that will motivate you in those bad days when you just can’t help but want a quick fix.

2. Seek professional and personal support for yourself

Professional medical support and the support from your loved ones and family will definitely guide you and help you keep motivated as you recover from addiction. During this time it is important for you to communicate to have someone that you can trust where you can communicate openly about your feelings, your good days and your bad days, and especially those time when you feel like the temptation is so overwhelming that you want to go back to your addiction.

Having someone there to cheer you on and guide you will help keep you on track. Look for local institutions or groups that can provide the support that you need depending on the type of addiction that you had. Go into therapy with your family or loved ones so that they also will understand exactly what you are going through so that they will be able to provide the proper support you need.

3. Identify your triggers and know how to manage them

Depending on the type of addiction that you have, there are certain situations that brings out the cravings in you to give in again to your addiction. You have to be aware of these triggers and try very hard to steer clear of them. Do not risk being tempted into being addicted again even if you think you are strong enough now to say no. If your life habits before involves any of these triggers, change your routine.

4. Keep yourself healthy

Your mind and your body took quite a toll because of your addiction and during the detoxification. You should eat healthier and exercise so that your body can recover from the negative effects of the addiction to your body. If you are not into the habit of exercising, start now. Exercise can help boost your physical and mental health and it can be a good distraction when you are tempted to give in to the addiction to make yourself feel better. Exercise when you feel the urge!

5. It’s has been a long and hard journey, reward yourself

Being able to recover your addiction is a very big accomplishment and you should reward yourself. For sure you have been punishing yourself over and over when you were addicted, this time do something nice for yourself. Take that relaxing trip that you have been wanting to get or treat yourself and your loved one to an expensive dinner. You have been given a second chance to have a better life, its cause to celebrate!

According to recent statistics, opiate abuse and addiction is costing the U.S. more than $484 billion annually, making it one of the most common and costly addictions afflicting those around us. Whether you are suffering from an opiate addiction yourself, or if you have a loved one in your life who is struggling to overcome the addiction, understanding an opiate addiction thoroughly is the first step to getting the help and resources necessary for your personal situation.

What is an Addiction to Opiates?

Prescription strength painkillers use variety of opioids to alleviate pain ranging from joint pain to muscle strains and aches. Individuals who become addicted to opiates have often had the painkillers or prescription medications prescribed directly to them, only later to lead to a more serious addiction and habit. Because of the strength of opiates and most painkillers on the market today, they need to be administered and taken with extreme caution to avoid becoming habit forming.

The most common types of opiates that are used and abused today are morphine, heroin, opioids and even codeine. Additionally, there are also synthetic opiates which are prescribed within traditional doctor’s offices and hospitals such as Oxycontin, which are rapidly becoming even more abused on the drug market today. Although opiates are originally derived from the poppy plant, which also contains opium, they have since become extremely popular and used within a variety of medications available to treat a number of illnesses and pain symptoms.

Becoming Addicted

It is not uncommon for the everyday individual to quickly become addicted to using opiates after a routine procedure due to their powerful nature. Once an individual begins taking opiates, the pleasure center in the brain is activated each time the body receives the medication, giving the patient a relief from pain and an overall euphoric feeling. Once the body no longer has the opiates in the system, it begins to crave more medication and painkillers to “light up the brain’s pleasure system” again. Within just a few days to a few weeks, any individual who has had no history of drug use or addiction has the capability of becoming addicted to using opiates and other narcotics. Ensuring safety and proper use of prescriptions is necessary to avoid any potential downward spiral.

Signs and Symptoms of an Opiate Addiction Withdrawal

Whether you or a loved one in your life is attempting to overcome an addiction to opiates, it is likely to experience common opiate withdrawal signs and symptoms when you stop using the drugs, especially within the first 72 hours of non-usage. When you have become severely addicted to opiates and you are looking to find a way out of your addiction, it is highly recommended to seek medical care and assistance throughout the process to help with ensuring your body’s health and safety while you are detoxing.

When you first attempt to stop using opiates, it is common to experience insomnia, increased irritability, anxiety, achy muscles and even increased sinus drainage and sweating. As withdrawal symptoms begin to worsen depending on the severity of your addiction to opiates, you may begin to experience nausea, vomiting and cramping throughout the abdomen. Diarrhea, dilated pupils and even frequent episodes of goosebumps without warning is also common. If you find yourself experiencing the later symptoms of withdrawal from opiate addiction which are more severe, it may be necessary to check yourself into a hospital or a local rehabilitation treatment center or facility.

Because of the severity of an opiate addiction, it is easily possible to overdose on prescription medications, morphine and other opiates that have been given to patients by doctors themselves. Opiates can ultimately lead to respiratory decompression, heart failure, liver and kidney failure as well as brain damage depending on which opiates are used, the amount that has been taken, as well as whether or not any other substances have been mixed with the opiates during the process.

Long-Term Effects of an Opiate Addiction

Long-term effects of an opiate addiction often lead to anti-social behavior, caring less about responsibilities, and even the inability to maintain relationships or employment. Opiate addictions often trigger financial stress, many times even leading to lying to spouses and family members to help with affording the habit.

Understanding the early signs and symptoms of becoming addicted to using opiates can help you to recognize these signs in those close to you and assist them in getting the help they need.

Building a Support Group for a Loved One Struggling to Overcome an Addiction

Building a group for support is essential for anyone attempting to beat their opiate addiction. Your support group should consist of close friends and family members who can be trusted, are empathetic to the situation, but are not enablers. The bigger your support group is the easier it becomes for the addict to stay away from temptation, and remain healthy and clean.

Inpatient Rehabilitation Treatment Facilities

Inpatient rehabilitation treatment facilities do not only provide a safe haven for you to detox in, but they often have medical assistance and care available at all times. Various drugs such as Methadone, Revia, Suboxone and Subutex are used to help with detoxing opiates from the body, especially within the first few days of not using the drug altogether.

When you have a severe addiction to opiates, an inpatient rehabilitation treatment center or facility may be the ideal, and maybe even only, solution for you. Checking into an inpatient rehabilitation center often requires patients to live within the premises for a set period of time, lasting anywhere from 28 days to more than 60 days depending on your own needs as well as the severity of the addiction you are trying to overcome.

The Benefits of Inpatient Rehab Facilities

Inpatient rehab facilities and treatment programs provide you not only with medical care and assistance, but also with counseling and group therapy opportunities. Hearing about the same struggles others are also facing can be reassuring throughout your journey to sobriety. Meeting others who are also going through the same process is a way for you to ensure you stay as motivated and focused on your goals as much as possible at all times.

Outpatient Opiate Rehab Programs

Outpatient rehab programs and facilities are also available for individuals who are faced with an addiction to opiates and who want to overcome the addiction and cravings altogether. Outpatient rehab programs do not require individuals to live within the facility where treatment takes place. Instead, using an outpatient rehab program gives you the opportunity to prove your sobriety by attending bi-weekly, weekly, or even monthly meetings to assess your progress, share your stories, and to hear from others.

Outpatient opiate rehab programs are only advisable to those who do not have an addictive personality or who have not gone through different programs unsuccessfully in the past. Because of the potential severity of this type of addiction, it is important to seek out an impatient care facility or a hospital if the individual involved is suffering from a severe addiction relating to prescription painkillers or other opiates.

Selecting the Right Rehab Program

Whether you have been struggling with an addiction to opiates for years or if you have only recently found yourself forming an unhealthy habit, choosing the right rehab program or treatment center for you highly depends on your own needs, your lifestyle, as well as the severity of the addiction in question.

Having a clear understanding and self-awareness of your opiate addiction and how it is affecting and impacting you, your family, and those around you each day is a way for you to better determine whether you require inpatient care, or if you are better suited for an outpatient rehab and recovery program.

The more you understand opiate related addictions and how they can affect you both short and long-term, the easier it is to begin making the right choices for yourself if you are in need of help and support to get your own life back in track. Educating and informing yourself about this affliction is one of the best ways you can lend support and a helping hand to a loved one through their process of getting clean and sober.